Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, Vicar of the Diocese of Singapore, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Singapore
On June 2, the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, Bishop Pitirim of Jakarta, Vicar of the Diocese of Singapore, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Singapore.
His Eminence was co-served by the clergy of the church: Priest Yevgeny Shmelev, Priest Dimitry Lavrentiev, and Deacon Dimitry Semash.
Over the 40 days after His resurrection, the Lord appeared to His disciples, supporting and instructing them. On the 40th day, He went up the mountain with them and ascended to Heaven. The troparion of the feast says: “Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, Granting joy to Thy disciples.” We may ask ourselves: “What kind of joy is meant since the disciples are parting from the Lord?”, – noted in his sermon Priest Evgeny Shmelev.
“The Lord had spoken about the reason for the joy of Ascension to the disciples even before this event: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John, 14:2-3). Thus, we also rejoice together with the apostles, because we have a place in Heaven next to God Himself!
Just as the Lord was resurrected in His body, He also ascends to Heaven in human flesh, which He shares with us. With this, the Lord completes His divine economy and opens the way for us to Heaven. It is also important that the Lord calls the disciples to action, saying: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19), as if instructing the disciples and us that from now on, the Lord must be manifest in all our actions and deeds.
In His Ascension, the Lord designated the vector and direction of our whole life – to strive upward, towards God. By striving for Him to Heaven, we should, through good deeds and the fulfillment of the commandments, show that God is with us, “even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).”
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